Black Panther: Wakanda Forever set up one new Avenger, and it is not Shuri's Black Panther, as Okoye's ending teases her future. Although the main story was rather self-confined, the Black Panther sequel did play a role in setting up future developments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This included the highly anticipated debut of Namor and his underwater city Talokan, as well as confirming that Shuri is the new Black Panther and M'Baku is Wakanda's new ruler after T'Challa's death. Audiences also met Riri Williams a.k.a. Ironheart.

Thanks to the Black Panther franchise's popularity, there has been speculation in recent years about which characters could be part of the next Avengers team. T'Challa was surely part of Marvel's Avengers plans before Chadwick Boseman's death, which left Letitia Wright's Shuri to assume the mantle of Black Panther. That makes her a strong candidate to join the MCU's new Avengers lineup after Phase 4, but Black Panther: Wakanda Forever also theoretically makes it possible for M'Baku, Namor, or Ironheart to join the team. None of these characters are directly set up to be Avengers, but another Black Panther 2 character was.

Related: Why Shuri Didn't Fight For The Wakandan Throne

Black Panther 2’s Ending Teases Okoye Being A Permanent Avenger

Danai Gurira as Okoye in Black Panther Wakanda Foreverin Midnight Angle armor

Marvel subtly set up Okoye's Avengers future in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's ending. The movie proved to be a life-changing moment in Okoye's life, as she is stripped of her title as the leader of the Dora Milaje. This leads Danai Gurira's character to finally agree to wear the Midnight Angels armor made by Shuri. While she used this new super suit to help protect Wakanda from Talokan's attacks, Okoye's story ends with her leaving Wakanda, breaking Everett Ross out of captivity, and seemingly being free to pursue a new superhero lifestyle with the Midnight Angels armor in hand. This should include permanently joining the Avengers.

It is important to remember that Okoye has a history with the Avengers team already thanks to Avengers: Endgame. The movie showed that five years after Thanos' snap, Okoye was an official member of the Avengers and took part in their meetings. She might not have gone with the team to kill Thanos after Avengers: Infinity War, but her involvement in Black Widow's briefings is telling. It would now seem likely that Okoye will return to the Avengers after leaving Wakanda, and the Midnight Angels armor makes her even more well-equipped to deal with Avengers-level threats.

Okoye’s Midnight Angel Could Be An Avenger Instead of Shuri’s Black Panther

New Black Panther (Shuri) and Avengers: Endgame

Thanks to the setup for Okoye's Midnight Angel to become an Avenger, she could be the one to represent the Black Panther franchise with the team instead of Shuri. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever did make Letitia Wright's character a superhero, but her future is unclear. Shuri is last seen mourning T'Challa's death and meeting his and Nakia's son after walking away from the chance to be Wakanda's ruler. It is possible that she is on a journey of self-discovery and healing that will not leave space for superhero activities. And even if she does desire that lifestyle, it would seem more likely Shuri would return to Wakanda

Joining the Avengers does not have to be part of Shuri's Black Panther future for her to be part of the MCU still. However, Okoye's Midnight Angel might need the Avengers to find a new home in the shared universe. Now that she is taking a leave from Wakanda and helping Everett Ross in some fashion, Okoye could reconnect with former Avengers teammates like Bruce Banner or Carol Danvers. With Kang on the horizon, Okoye could even play a role in helping reform the Avengers after Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

More: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Gives T'Challa A Complicated Legacy

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